While not on the agenda, a statement was made at the July 25, 2024 meeting of the Baldwin Hills Community Standards District that there had been an oil spill at the Inglewood Oil Field on July 12, and that details would be forthcoming. Sentinel Peak Oil, the current lease holder on the site, would be making a statement in regard to the information that was missing.
Twenty one days after the alleged oil spill, there is still no official cause.
The information released at the meeting and confirmed by the Baldwin Hills Conservancy said that roughly six barrels of oil (at 42 gallons per barrel, that is 262 gallons of oil) and 260 barrels water. The water that is used in extracting oil from the ground is also toxic, and needs to be treated before being released.
According to Steven Jareb, the Supervising Planner for the Los Angeles County Planning Department, “All the proper agencies were notified [LA County Fire & Hazmat, Cal Geologic Energy Managment] but there wasn’t an answer as to what caused it.”
The spill was located near the center of the oil field, near La Cienega Boulevard, south of the Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area.
Cleanup began on the same day, and was completed on July 13. The spill was in the county sector, and not in the portion of the oil field in Culver City’s city limits.
Judith Martin-Straw
